Dirigible light



. L. M. WALDEN DIRIGIBLE LIGHT oct. 16, 192s.

Filed July 28, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l lill 4 Q n litlrlF r r 1 IlllllffmHHHHHwH/ Oct. 16, 1928. 1,655,213

L.. M. WALDEN DIRIGIBLE LIGHT Filed Ju1y28, 1924 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2Loafer JV( ZUwZdm Patented Unt. 16, 1928.

PATENT VOFFlCE..

LESTER Me WALDEN, OF CHICfGO, ,ILLINOIS DIRIGIBLE LIGHT.

Application filed `July t28,A

The invention relates to a lamp for motor vehicles and the like, of thedirigible type; andv it concerns more `especially the means for mountingthe lamp in a manner such as to render it readily adjustable fromaremote point. l

The primary object of my invention is to provide a means for mounting adirigible light which permits of a facile adjustment thereof throughoutawide range of movement.`

A. further object is to provide an adjustable support for a dirigiblelight and operating means therefor whereby the spotlight may be mountedadvantageously at a point near the extreme forward end of the motorvehicle below the stationary headlights and at the same time may becontrolled from the dash. Y Y

Av general object is to provide a supporting and operating means ottv athoroughly practical character capable of being manufactured on anyeconomical basis. y

In the accompanying drawings, I have shownone embodiment only of myinvention, but l contemplate that various changes in the constructionand arrangementr hereinafter specitically set forth may be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention' as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 a fragmentary l elevational view ot myinvention applied to a motor vehicle. 1 v. A Fig. 2 is a fragmentaryvertical .sectional` i view through the supporting means and a.

vehicle.

portion of the operating means. f

Fig. '3 a front elevational view of the device further illustrating themanner in which itis advantageously applied to a motor Fig. t is afragmentary vertical sectional view Vil"ustrating a bracket providing asupport for the operating means secured to 'the chassis of the vehiclewithin the motor compartment, the view lbeing taken approxin'iately inthe plane of line L -4; of 5.

5 is a fragmentary sectional View taken approvimately,r in the plane ofline 5- 5 of Fig. e. l

Fig. 6 is a'fragnientary side elevational view of the supporting andoperating means showing the relation 4fof the parts when the lamp isdirected downwardly in a straightahead direction.

Fig. i' is a fragmentary top plan `view of 1924. serial No. 728,690.

the position thereof shown in Vview illustrating the operating meansassociated with the dash of the vehicle. Fig. 11 is a rear view of theparts as shown in Fig. 2.

Figs. 12 andl?)v are fragmentary sectional views illustrating details ofconstruction.l

The lamp proper forming in itself rno part of this invention isgenerally designated by thenumeral 13. It comprises the usual reflector14, bulb 15 and lens 16,.r

The rear wall of the lampv has .a central opening 17 therein in which isrigidly mounted a tubular stem 18 closed at its rear end preferably bymeans of a fiber washer centrally apertured to permit thel passagetherethrough of wiresQ() leading tothe bulb 15. The latter' has a seatin the forward` end of a4 socket member 21 adjustable longitudinally inthe tube 18 and heldin adjusted position by means of a set screwQQ. f

` The supporting means for the lamp, which I by preference employ,comprises a bracket 23 which in the present instance is fastened.r

by means of bolts or the like to one of the forwardly projecting siderails 24 of the chassis (Fig. 1). Rising from said bracket andprojecting slightly forwardly is an arm 25 constructed in the presentinstance of twol similar pieces of metal 2 t and 25," secured togetherat their lower ends bymeans of `bolts 26 whereby `the arm is rigidlysecured to the bracket. At their upper ends, the portions Qf and 25 ofthe arm occupy a spaced relation as shown in Fig. 3, and each portionisjapertured to provide a seat for a bearing plate 27 Fig. 13 depressedoutwardly in its vcentral portion. -T`he two plates 27 provide in theircentral depressed portions seats for aball 28. which is rigid with the`shank 29 of an annular member 30 encircling the A.stem f 18 and rigidlysecured thereto bymeans of the screw 22. Rigid Awith .the ball 2S anddepending therefrom is a stud 31 which pro jects radially between thetwo bearing plates 27. This stud. `together-wfith the shankQQ, operates,it'will be observed, to hold the lball against turning in such a way asto permit the lamp to-tilt laterally to one side or the Leeeeis other.In other words` the ball is capable of universal jointbetween the. rod86 and the turning onlyv on a horizontal axis extending transversely ofthe vehicle, being held b v the stud and shank against turning lon ahorizontal axis extending longitudinally of the vehicle. 1 v

In addition to turning on a transverse horizontal axis, the ball, itwill be observed, is japable of turning on an upright intersectingaxis'. The portions 25 and 25bof the arm 25 may be secured together-bymeans of screws '32, which may be readilyadjusted to effect a frictionalengagement between thefball and its bearing plates such that the ballshallnot turn too freely therein. A. pin 33 is also preferabl7 providedinthe arm portions Qfl and n 251 in the path of movement of the studl-so as lto' act as a stop limiting the up and down tilting of the lamp.

Pieferabl57 l movements of theball and hence provide about the ball 28and i betweenthe arm portions a and 25" a felt washer4 or ring 34enclosed within a spring clip -which is entered neatly between the armportions. lThis ring may besatiirated.

with lubricant to reduce wear on the parts.k

The operating means is of a character such that thelamp may be swunglaterallyv from side to side on a shifting upright axis passing I meanscomprises in the preferred construction an operating rod 36 having asliding pivotal connection with the member 3VO such thata longitudinalmovement of the rod effects an through the shank'29 of the member 30 andthe ball E28i or `up and down on a transverse horizontal axis passingthrough the ball. This up and'down swinging motion to the' lamp and aconsequent shifting'of the uprightaxis passing through the ball 28, anda rotary or twisting movement of the rod* imparts a lateral .swingingmotionto the lamp. The pivotal connection herein shown comprises a pairof links Vorarms arranged one upon each side of the member 30 andconnected thereto `for pivotal andr sliding movement through;V themedium of studs 38 (Figs. 7 and l1), saidV studs are carried by therearwardlyY extending varms 39 of a U-shaped member -lO rotatable uponthe tubular stem 1S of the y v lamp. The'studs proliect laterally andinwardly into j slots 'al which are formed in .the yopposite sides ofthe annular member 30, and it will be seen that in the rotation ofthehinember 40 the vstuds slide'zin their respective grooves.y hold`l,ing the members 30 and ll0 against relative longitudinal movement.Preferablj,7 a spring' washer 40a is interposed between the members 30and 40. n

V *Thelinks' aie connected together at their rear ends b v means'of across bar l2 which is kdown-turned arms' 'lll at its'ends betweenwhichis pivotally mounted a blockV rigid links or arms 37.

Rigid with the bracket 23 is a split collar it? herein shown as formedintegral with the portions 25 and 25h of the supporting arm 2:3,` andwithin this collar i6 l provide a, bearing sleeve 4.7 having` a flangeor collar 48 thereon between which and a screw threaded bushing a9 isclamped the collar 46. The forward end of the rod 3G operates in thisbearing as shown clearl7V in Fig. 2. Preferably a packing material 5011sinterposed between the bushing e9 and the sleeve et? so as to excludedust and dirt-from the bearing.

As is shoiifn'clearly in Fig. 2, the forward end of theiod 36 isdisposed at an angle to the axis of the lamp stem 18, so that when atwisting motion is imparted to the rod in one direction or the other thelinks 37 are respectively' moved forwardly and rearwarely (Figs. 8 Vand9) with the result that they impart a sie` ment by imparting alongitudinalsliding movement to the rod; but in any given angularrelation of the parts a twisting motion imparted to the rod will swingthe lamp in a true lateral Jath. the lama tiirnine' in this u 4.movement on the upright axis passing through the shank Q9 ofthe member30 and the ball Q8.

ln order that the lamp when located at the extreme forward end offthevehicle may be ,operated from the dash board of the vehicle, 'Iiiiterpose in the rod 36 a flexible connection in the form of a flexibleshaft 51 preferably made of closely 'coiled wire; and l enclose thisshaft in a metallic tube 52 which in the presentinstance is connected atits forward end tothe forward end of the rod within the bearing sleeve4l?, as shown in Fig. 2. Preferablvnthe tube 52 is made of a metal suchi that it may be bent readily, and conveniently, it is bent into asubstantially U-form sopas to pass beneath the froi'itcross bar of thechassisA whichsupports the radiator. At its rear end the tube 52 passesupwardl;7 into 'the motor compartment to receive the rear portion oftheoperating rod 36. To provide a support for the rear end of the tube lemploy an arm 53 (Figs. l and 5) which may be secured to the adjacentchassis side rail 24. Q y A U-shaped bracket 54 has dependingaperpivoted'centrally thereof to -a plate h3 having tured lugs 55through which is entered a sleeve 56 secured to therear end oftlie'tube. A bushing 5G ma)7 be threaded into the rear end of the sleeveto provide a bearing for the rod and to retain packing material 56habout llO ll O

tit)

the rod. The arm 53 passes'between the bracket 5.4i and the sleeve 56,and a pair ot screws 57 carried by the bracket and bearing against thearm 53 serveto clamp the sleeve 56 in position in the bracket. A

To provide forfurther flexibility in the operating rod,a. paii` ot'pivotal joints 58 may be interposed in the rea-r portion ot the rod.These joints (Fig. '12)' may be oft any suit-- able characterconsisting, lfor example/'ol two members 59 and 60 pivoted together bymeansioi a pin 61. It V-will be observed that mai-ranging the joints 58in the rod, theii1 respective pivots 6l will be positioned perlpendicularly relative to each other.

- At-the extreme rear end of the rod 36 is is slidably androtatablysupported in a U,- shaped bracket 62 10) having an upwardlyextending arm 68 which is secured to the dash as by means of bolts 64.The bracket has a ianged opening 65 therein providing a bearing for therod, and a handle is made tast upon the extreme rear end of the rod forconvenience in manipulating it. It desired, a coiledl spring 67 anchoredat one end to the bracket 68 and having its other end suitably anchored,provides a irictional connection between the bracket and the rodVtending 4to hold the latter' against too tree an aperture in the lowerportion of the brackctas shown clearly in Fig. 10.

The voperation maybe summarized brieliy as follows: Assuming the partsto be in the position shown ini Figs. landQv, a longitudinal slidingmovement imparted to the rod 36 by the operator ot the vehicle causesthe lamp to swing up or down on its horizontal transverse axis; and arotary or twisting motion imparted to the rod causes the lamp to swinglate allyf on an upright axis, to one side or the other. In-this latteroperation the rear ends oi: the links 37, rotating about the airis otthe rod '36, cause the forward ends of the links and hence `the member.Al() connected thereto to tend to conform with their arc of rotation.Because, however, the axes ot the rod and of the member et() are at alltimes disposed in angular relation, a lateral'swinging movement isimparted tothe lamp.

I havetound that it is desirable to mount rthe lampat the eXtremeforward end of the bility ot light from the lampbeing reflectedrearwardly into the eyes of the driver, and it reduces toa minimumtheglare which is f so commonly experienced by motorists in connectifmvwith ordinary spotlights. The

means which I have provided for supporting and operating the light lendsitselt readily toits location in such desiredadvantageous position, andalso renders it possible readily to apply the iight to existingvehicles. More kover the operating means permits of a wide range ot'movement oit the light so that it can be put ,to the various uses otwhich spot,-

lights mounteduponthe wind shield are capable. 1 'lhe construction isrelatively simple, the

major portion of the parts being of avoliaracot aI stationary bracket, abal-l mounted in said bracket to turn on a transverse horizontal a-Xisand also upon a shifting upright axis, a lamp,

a-member rigid withsaid ball and with said lamp, an operating rod, andmeans pivote-ily connecting said rod with said member upon oppositesides ot the axis ot the lamp whereby a twisting motionv imparted to therod causes the member to swing onits upright axis and a longitudinalmovement imparted to the rod causes the member to swing on itstransverse horizontal axis. Y

2. The combination with a member mount ed to turn on a transversehorizontal axis and also on an upright axis, said member being adaptedto provide a support for a vehicle lamp and having grooves "in oppositesides disposed on opposite sides ot' the axis of the lamp, anoperatingrod arranged at an angle to the axis of the lamp, a pair oflinks each having a stud operating in one ot said grooves and connectedVtogether in spaced relation, and a connection between said links andsaid -rod whereby a twisting movement .of the rod imparts to the lampsupported by said member a swinging motion in one direction and alongitudinal movement of the rod imparts to the lamp a swinging motionin another direc tion.k p

v 3. A dirigible light comprising, in combination, a lamp having a stem,a. member rotatable relative tof and about the axis of said stem butheld against longitudinal movement relativ-e thereto, means torsupporting said member to permit it'A to turn on intersecting axes, anoperating member mounted for longitudinal and rotational movement on anaxis inclined with respect to the airis oi" the lamp,

and means providing a connection between said lmembers operable upon atwisting or longitudinal movement oit the operating member to imparteither a lateral or up and down swinging movement to the lamp on one orthe other of said aires.r

4l. A dirigible lightcomprising, in combi nation, a lamp having a stem,a member rotatable on said stem but held against longi- `one orftheother ofsaid axes, said connecting meanscomprising a pair of linkshaving pivotal and ,sliding connections with opposite sides'of the iirstmentioned member. v 5. A dirigible lamp comprising,in combiv nation, alamp having an axial stem, a mem- .ber encircling said stem andrigidtlierewith,

saidinember being mounted to turn on two approximately perpendicularVintersecting axes, a second member rotatable on the stem rotatablerelative to the irst membei` but held against longitudinal lmovement:relative thereto, anfoperating rod mounted for sliding and rotarymovement and inclined to the axis of said'stem,and'means connecting saidrod with opposite sides oi the rotatable member whereby to impartswinging movements to the lamp on said intersecting axes in thelongitudinal and .rotary movements ot the iod. r

e 6. A dirigible light'comprising, in combination, a lamp havingan axialstem, a mem- `ber encircling said stem and rigid therewith,

said member mounted to turn .on two approximately perpendicularintersecting axes, a secsaid stem,` and means connecting said operatyrocal movements, a member mountedonsaii Vfond member rotatable onthestem rotatable relative to the first member'but held againstlongitudinal movement relative thereto, an operating member mounted forsliding and rotary kmovement and inclined to the axis of ing member withthe rotatable member whereby to impart swinging movements tothe lamp onsaid intersecting Vaxes inthe longitudinal `and rotary movements of therod, the means 'for supporting the yfirst mentioned member comprising. abracket and a ball mounted to turn in said bracket and having` a shankrigid with the member.

f 7. rlhe combination with a lamp having a stem, a member mounted toturn relative to and about the axis of said stem, but heldv againstlongitudinal 'movement thereon, means for supporting said member so thatit may turn upon intersecting` axes, anoperating rod mounted forlrotational and reciprod 'and' extending transversely thereof, and meansopeiz-itively.y connecting said two members whereby a twisting motionimparted to the rod causes the lampto swing on one axis, and alongitudinal movement imparted to the rod causes the lamp kto swing ananother axis.

8. The combination with a ylamp having YLeeaaia a stem,` afmembermounted to rotate on said stem, but held against longitudinal move lmentthereon, means for universally supporting said member, and an ,operatingrod mounted for reciprocal and longitudinal movements and having a pairot spaced arms pivotally connected with diametrically opposite sides ofsaid member. i

9. The combination with a lamp having a stem, an annular member rigidwith said stem, a second member mounted to rotate on said stem andhaving a pair ot' inwardly extending diametrically disposed studs, saidstationary member being grooved'to receive said studs, ymeans toruniversally supporting the lamp, an operating rod mounted for reciprocaland longitudinal movements, and means including a pair of arms mountedto move with said rod and respectively connected to said studs.

sockets for said ball, a lubricating ring interposed `between saidmembers and encirclingthe ball, and an annular member for contining saidring.

ll. rlhe combination with a lamp having a stem, an annular member rigidwith said stem, a second member rotatable relative to and about the axisof said stem, means operatively connecting said-members so as to permitrotation ot' the second member but hold it against longitudinal movementon the stem, means for universally supporting the lamp, an operating rodmounted for reciprocal and longitudinal movements, and means operttively connecting said rod with said second member, whereby rotationalmovements imparted to the rod will swing the lamp on one axis andreciprocal movements imparted to the rod will swing therodon anotheraxis.V

12. The combination with alamp having a. stem, a member mounted torotate on said stein but held against longitudinal move vments thereon,means for universally supporting the lamp, -anoperating rodmounted forrotational and reciprocal movements, a member mounted on said rodtransversely thereof, a plate pivoted on said member substantiallyperpendicular to the-pivotal axis of saidfinember, and a pair oiarmsipivotally connecting the opposite ends ol' said plate withdiametrically opposite-sides ot the rotary member on the stem.;V q

'13. The' combination with alainp having a stem, a member mounted toturn relative 4to and about the axis of said ,stemy but held againstVlongitudinal movement thereon,`

lill) means for universally supportingthe lamp, and means for causingthe lamp to swing on either of two intersecting axes including anoperating rod mounted for reciprocal and rotational movements andoperatively connected with said member.

14. The combination with a lamp, of means for sWingably supporting thelamp compris" ing a stem rigid withY the lamp, a member mounted on saidstem so as to rotate thereon about the axis of the stem, said memberbeing held against longitudinal movement relative to the stem, anoperating rod mounted for rotational movements on an inclined aXisrelative to the axis of the stem, and means operable in the rotation ofsaid rod to impart a combined rotational and swinging movement to saidmember whereby to impart a swinging movement to the lamp. f

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto 20 affixed my signature.

LESTER M. VALDEN.

